The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-01-19
Rules for Building.

The Country Gentleman glxes the 1ol-
lowing rules by way of suggestion for
country residents, farmers and others
who intend to erect dwellings in the
spring:
Choose a good spot for the house
healthy, dry, with good drainage-and
if possible, with good prospect, land
scape and trees. Surface water should
Rim off in every direction.
Secure provision for pure water, if not
by wells and springs, then with filtered
rain water. Many lose their lives by u.s.
ing impure water.
Place the house where J.. will be most
accessible from all parts of the farm, as
nearly as may be, for the convenience OF
the owner and his men in their constant
labors.
Beginning at the basement or cellar,
let it be well lighted, with double glazed
windows, and always kept dry and clean,
so as never to need cleaning.
! ct the cellar extend under the whole
house, for preserving the timbers from
rotting, and affording the room:
For country houses wood is usually
best and cheapest. Stone walls arc cold
and damp, unless we'll furred, lathed aud
plastered. All brick walls should have
air spaces. In building with wood,
adopt balloon frames with air spaces be-
tween outside and interior plastering,
with the additional security of using
building paper or brick inside, and use
plenty of nails, as they are the cheapest
strengtheners.
If the cellar has not perfect natural
drainage, lay tile outside all around
the wall, foot and hall below the wall,
with Tree discharge: and cross drains
into it to keep the cellar free from damp
ness.
Few spacious windows arc better than
many contracted ones.
Avoid hanging doors to swing outside
on stair-landings, and never place them
so as to strike each other when opened.
Bedrooms should be large enough to
avoid placing the bed against awindow
or closet door.
Plenty of closets should be provided,
and hang the closet door so that the
closet may receive light from the nearest
window.
Adjoining the kitchen, dining or liv-
ing room, should be small room Access
sible from outside, for workingmen to
leave muddy boots and overcoats, and
to wash Their hands.
In the country. avoid basement kitch-
ems, and place kitchen, living room and
common bedrooms all on one floor, for
ready access.
To dcaden the floor between the cellar
and room above, nail flooring on the
lower sides of the joists, place on this
two or three inches of concrete and then
lay the floor This will exclude sounds,
prevent rising exhalations from fruit
room or cellar. and prove additional Sc
curty against fire.
Kitchen windows, being in constant
use, should be hung on weights; and
they should always be on opposite sides,
to give full light and free ventilation.
A square or rectangular house gives
the most room for the same amount of
outside walls; but some exception must
be made in order to obtain light and side
ventilation.
Avoid rcceding angles in roofs as much
as possible, as they are a frequent cause
of leakage.
Easily accessible verandas may be
made with high ceilings, to prevent
darkcning windows.
A high ceiling to rooms poorly venti-
lated is not so good as one of moderate
height, but we'll ventilated.